Shooting Has Begun on the ‘Game of Thrones‘ Prequel Series

While Game of Thrones is over, HBO’s time in Westeros is most definitely not.

Entertainment Weekly reports that shooting has begun on the Game of Thrones prequel series — tentatively titled The Long Night:

Filming has quietly begun on the untitled follow-up to HBO’s fantasy sensation, which is shooting a pilot this summer in hopes for a series order. The shooting location is a familiar one: Northern Ireland, which served as the production of hub for GoT during its entire run. It’s not yet clear if the prequel will also shoot in other countries as well.

The series, set thousands of years before the events of the Game of Thrones television series based on George R.R. Martin’s novels, will feature an impressive cast headlined by Naomi Watts. Miranda Richardson, Naomi Ackie, and Denise Gough, will all appear in the anticipated show as well.

If things go poorly, it’s theoretically possible HBO will not pick up the pilot, produced by Jane Goldman and directed by S.J. Clarkson, and if that’s the case the world at large may never see it. But given the fact that Game of Thrones became one of HBO’s biggest shows ever, and that it ended its run with its best ratings in the series’ history, that seems like a very remote possibility.